The Noble Woman’s Guide On How to Tease One’s Husband

The Noble Woman’s Guide On How to Tease One’s Husband – Chapter 81

Translated by: Oinkoink

Chapter 81 – Small Gathering

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In the quiet afternoon of a warm day, an elderly and a young man sat on the seven-panel wooden armchair, chatting and sipping tea in the spacious main hall of the Ye family’s clan home. In the teacups were clear green whirls that diffused curling vapor of bitter tea fragrance that gradually suffused to every corner of the hall.

“Li’er, have you heard of the recent rumors in the royal court?”

Ye Huaili nodded slightly to Ye Xun. Gloomy hues enshrouded the pitch-dark pupils of his eyes as if it was hard to explain in a few words.

The Ministry of Justice had handed over their feedback a few days ago, explaining that Wang Feng was killed by the mobster during a tour of inspection. As too many people were involved, the search is still in full swing. Wang Feng’s body has already been transported back to Wangdu and the day of receiving the deceased body, the Wang family found a whip mark on his back which depth did not seem impair by ordinary people. Wang Jian immediately went to the palace to seek an audience and strongly requested a re-investigation of the case but was rejected by Chu Sanghuai for lack of evidence.

It’s true that the Ministry of Justice’s conclusion cannot be overthrown with this point alone. Perhaps there are martial arts practitioners amongst the perpetrators but Ye Huaili does not think so. The inclination of the whip can be determined by the length and depth of the wound while looking over the position at that time, the whip must have attacked from an extremely tricky angle. Such a skill is rare, so he basically could ascertain that Wang Feng must have been assassinated by someone with a purpose.

He told all these deductions to Ye Xun, who said, “You’d better go back to Guanzhong as soon as possible. Don’t meddle in these matters.”

The implication was that this matter could not escape from the conflicts of various factions in the royal court.

The arch on the corners of Ye Huaili’s lips was particularly cold and harsh. It took a long time before he spat out a sentence, “Naturally, I will not pay attention to these matters, only afraid some people will have their heads sharpen* to squeeze into this chaotic war.”

[T/N: 削尖脑袋 (Xuè jiān nǎodai) – Describes the ugly state of a person disguising, whitewashing, and desperately drilling the camp/go backward to secure personal gain]

Ye Xun raised his eyebrows and asked, “You mean Yang’er?”

Once Caocao was mentioned and here he appeared* when the housekeeper appeared at the door gaspingly as soon as the words faltered, “Old Master, Eldest Young Master, the matriarch and Wangye are back for dinner.”

[T/N: 说曹操曹操到 (Shuō cáocāo cáocāo dào) – speaking of the devil and he doth appear]

Ye Huaili’s face immediately turned cold while Ye Xun waved the housekeeper away then persuaded amiably, “Yang’er rarely come back once, so don’t always put forth such a look to save her being caught in a difficult position between you and Wangye.”

“I don’t see her cower the least bit should she be in a difficult position. Isn’t she hell-bent on following him?”

Ye Xun stroked his grizzled beard and spoke unhurriedly, “I can see that Wangye treats her extremely well and complies all her wishes just like spoiling his own child. This circumstance is already considered the best amongst the fickle and callous royal family. Moreover, he has also been content with his lot in the royal court recently without any dubious moves. You should not be too overcritical.”

Ye Huaili snorted coldly, “Elder Uncle, he has an undemonstrative mind that has always been astute. If he is really scheming errantly in the dark, can both of us discern it? Not to mention the fact that Yang’er is simply hand in glove with him. She will get herself killed sooner or later!”

“Then what can you do now? Forcibly break them apart?” Ye Xun shook his head and heaved a sigh, “Yang’er is precisely a very opinionated child since young. Even your father can hardly change whatever she has set her mind on, let alone you.”

The clusters of radiance in Ye Huaili’s eyes flickered once at these words, as if something came into his mind suddenly.

Why didn’t he think of his own father? He is indeed the most wise and resolute person in the entire Ye family. With him keeping an eye at home, will he still be afraid of Ye Huaiyang not behaving herself?

After making up his mind, Ye Huaili intended to go to the post station immediately. Who knew a petite figure would burst into his line of sight the moment he turned around, dressing in a smoky-water white-patterned flower skirt with a jade buyao dangling behind her ears and two blue-lake ribbons braided around her hair bun which swayed vividly along her brisk paces.

When has she ever focused on dressing up like this at home before?

The phrase ‘woman dresses herself up for the one she pleased ’ profoundly entered Ye Huaili’s mind. He felt even more uncomfortable once he thought this was all for Chu Jinglan that he just wanted to summon his father back hastily, so as to avoid Ye Huaiyang falling even deeper and not able to extricate herself later.

Thinking as such, he walked around Ye Huaiyang and went outside, preparing to send a letter but who knew, Ye Huaiyang would perch herself directly in front of him and blinked her fawn-like eyes as she asked, “Elder Brother, where are you going? Won’t you want to accompany me for dinner?”

Ye Huaili retorted indifferently, “There are so many people at home, do you still need me to accompany you?”

“Forget it if you are not willing … “ Ye Huaiyang’s face darkened slightly and awkwardly withdrew the hand that was pulling him, “When I was sick as a child, you would personally feed me dinner, now you don’t even want to sit at the same table with me anymore. Have you taken a fancy of any family’s noble lady and put all your heart on others …”

Ye Huaili turned his head swiftly to glare at her, “You think everyone is like you!”

“How can this be compared? What’s to be done if my husband is to take three wives and four concubines back if I don’t set my heart on him? But Elder Brother is different, originally you are an unrestrained excellent gentleman. Even if you don’t put effort into it, others will still stick to you …”

A certain person was still harping fallacy when a voice with admonishment sounded from behind, “Yang’er.”

Who wants to take three wives and four concubines back? Even dare to talk nonsense in front of him!

Ye Huaiyang turned around slowly and smiled very innocently as if she had already forgotten what she had just said while Chu Jinglan let her played dumb too. He walked in and placed his hand around her waist then stopped Ye Xun, who was about to greet them, “Yang’er said she is misses Elder Uncle very much after going to the vacation palace for more than a month, so I brought her over. We are here at a spur-of-the-moment, hope the manor has prepared our meals.”

The atmosphere was immediately relaxed with such a humorous tone that Ye Xun’s brows were raised in delight when he spoke, “How could that be? Ye family will always have a seat and a room reserved for you both. It’s good to come back more often.”

“In that case, Yang’er and I will stay here tonight.”

Ye Huaiyang turned to look at him with pleasant surprise and inquired softly, “Can we?”

“As long as you want it.” Chu Jinglan smiled wryly.

“Great! I can play leaf-grip cards with Xin’er and Ling’er tonight!” Ye Huaiyang was full of excitement then adamantly hugged Ye Huaili’s arm with a look of not willing to listen to any excuses, “Elder Brother is not allowed to leave, otherwise we can’t gather a full table of four anymore.”

Ye Huaili spoke sullenly, “Loosen your grip. I have a rendezvous with a noble lady under the moonlight and in no mood to accompany you.”

He was obviously stifling her with the nonsense that she made up just now.

Amused with unstoppable giggles, Ye Huaiyang could not even straighten her body that her whole person hung lopsidedly on the crook of his arm, looking extremely comical. Yet the men on the spot allowed her brazen behavior and no one chided her as it has already become a fact that they all doted on her to the extreme.

“Which noble lady is more important than me? Won’t do, you can’t leave no matter what you say.” After saying that, Ye Huaiyang called out to the servants outside and instructed, “Whoever allows the Elder Young Master to leave tonight will be served with a backscratcher!”

Restraining their laughter, the crowd replied in unison, “Yes, Nucai[1] obeys.”

“You depend on them to stop me?” Ye Huaili raised his dashing brows, obviously attaching no importance to her command yet he still let her pull him towards the dining room. He could feel the tight grip of the small hands and the sleek sweat oozing from the seams of her fingers.

Smiling slyly, Ye Huaiyang stopped unexpectedly and winked at Chu Jinglan, who was behind her, “Husband, only you can match a few rounds with Elder Brother, so you must help me later.”

Chu Jinglan did not speak but the corners of his lips hooked up a shallow arc, fresh and beautiful like the gentle breeze and bright moon.

After dinner, the couple returned to the courtyard where Ye Huaiyang previously lived. There is a carp pond, flowering trees and an embroidered couch. Everywhere was pleasantly quiet whereby the sweetness and vitality of a young girl could be detected. Her unique calmness without the slightest sense of peculiarity can also be felt which is precisely just like her who is fond of acting coquettish and impish, and independently self-reliant, likewise this sort of ingenious and perfect blend warrant him to be so captivated that he is unable to let go of her even for a moment.

Watching her excitedly pulling Ye Huaixin and Ye Huailing into the room to stack the leaf-grid cards, Chu Jinglan only retracted his gaze after a long moment before picking up the white jade teacup for a sip of tea. Once the subtle bitterness in the mellow fragrance entered his throat, it turned into sweet aftertaste.

The person next to him was also silently savoring this pot of newly brewed Mingqian Longjing. All along the teacup was held in his hand without him minding its hot temperature. He only spoke when it gradually turned cool but the distant coldness in his voice could not be diffused like the late bleak autumn.

“Earlier Yang’er vomited so severely in the vacation palace, is she pregnant?”

Gazing at the thick wisteria flowers under the perimeter wall, Chu Jinglan leisurely questioned in reply without even moving a finger, “Why don’t you go ask Yang’er?”

“Will she tell me the truth!” Ye Huaili turned his head abruptly, his words were condensed like the ice, “She is so focused on you that she loses her head with no sense of propriety. Don’t you know the severity of it?”

“I do know.”

Just three brief words flowed into Ye Huaili’s heart like the clear stream which instantly extinguished his flame.

Since he said so, Yang’er most probably is not pregnant.

The highly suspended heart of Ye Huaili returned to its place yet he was not as composed as he thought he was. He began to suspect that his bottom line had gradually dissolved. Originally, he opposed strongly for Ye Huaiyang to be with Chu Jinglan, but it is now acceptable as long as she is still leaping and prancing about, and even to the extent of imperceptibly becoming an accomplice to provide cover for her which is simply insane!

This is also the first time that he does not want to go back to Guanzhong.

Ye Huaili’s mind was muddled and could not be untangled yet was even confused. At this moment, the commander guard of Ye manor arrived hurriedly to the front of the courtyard seemingly to report some matter and seeing that Ye Huaili had no intention to avoid Chu Jinglan, he spoke bluntly.

“Elder Young Master, this subordinate just received news that the Young Master of the Wang family fought with the Young Master of the Xie family in a restaurant whereby Young Master Xie is seriously injured.”

Eyes twitched, Ye Huaili asked, “For what reason was the fight?”

“According to the onlookers, it was Young Master Wang who angrily pointed out that Xie family was the murderer of Wang Feng which Young Master Xie retorted angrily. Once their spoken words became rather heated, they fought.”

How could the Wang family deem so without rhyme and reason? Could they have found some evidence?

Ye Huaili asked immediately, “Did he say who the murderer was?”

The guard replied without hesitation, “Young Master Wang said, comparing the whip wound, there was no difference with the technique used by Xie Peng, the guard’s commander of Xie mansion, who inexplicably disappeared a few days ago when they wanted to confront him. The Wang family believes that the Xie family had intentionally hid or silenced him. At this moment, the two families had already gone to trouble the Emperor.”

Ye Huaili was not surprised with this outcome. There are one death and one wounded in that two families which could be resolved by no others but the Emperor. But what surprised him was that after fighting so many years of seesaw battles, Wang Xie would actually shed all pretense of cordiality now for the Jiangnan’s governor position. What is hidden amongst these that he does not know?

Ye Huaili looked consciously at Chu Jinglan, who just sipped his tea silently. His expression was profoundly calm and focused, as if all his thoughts were serene along the green leaves in the clear water pool.

He has yet to dwell deeply when a delicate and lovely voice unexpectedly drifted from behind, “Elder Brother, come in quickly. We are only short of you!”

[1] 奴才 (Núcái) – bondservant, your humble servant, referring to oneself when addressing the royalty or one’s master.

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